Ceiling insert for concrete



Jan. 27, 1959 s. FURER 2,870,625

CEILING INSERT FOR CONCRETE Filed Dec. 6. 1955 mm rg susi INVENTOR STANLEY FURER.

BY g ATTO NEY sired to detach it therefrom.

United States Patent O CEILING INSERT FoR CONCRETE Stanley Furer, West Hempstead, N. Y. Application December 6, 1955, Serial No. 551,340

1 Claim. (Cl. 72-105) This invention relates to removable clips for ceiling inserts and ceiling inserts adapted to be used in conjunction therewith. v

It is frequently necessary to provide overhead supports for steam pipes, sprinkler pipes, other conduits and also 'many other devices and fixtures which are pendently supported from room ceilings. Metal inserts (commonly known as concrete inserts) are embedded in the concrete ceiling and threaded rods or bolts are suspended therefrom. The pipes or other objects to be pendently supported from the ceiling are then secured to said threaded rods or bolts by means of pipe hangers or like supporting means.

This is all conventional and the conventional manner of embedding'the inserts into the ceiling may be described as follows: A plurality of inserts are nailed to a wooden form or deck on which the concrete is to be poured. After the concrete sets, the form or deck is stripped away leaving the concrete ceiling and the inserts exposed, and the nails hanging therefrom. It now becomes necessary to clip each individual nail ush with the ceiling to provide a clean,` finished appearance. In large installations, where thousands upon thousands of these inserts are used, the task of cutting the nails away assumes serious proportions. Moreover, what remains after the exposed portions of the nails are clipped away, is a series of end portions which rust and mar the appearance of the ceiling.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a clip for a ceiling insert, said clip to be nailed to the concrete form and said insert to be detachably secured to said clip. The clip is attached to the form by conventional means, that is, by nailing it to said form. The insert is simply snapped into place on the clip and the concrete is then poured in conventional fashion. When the poured concrete sets, the form is stripped away in the usual manner. The clip remains on the form since it is nailed thereto but the insert remains embedded in the ceiling without any nails hanging therefrom to mar its appearance. The clip may be removed from the form and then re-used as needed.

There are two ybasic forms of this invention. In the first form, the clip and the insert are made of the same material and they are integrally connected to each other. In one exemplication of this form of the invention, the clip is simply struck out of the insert except for a very l small neck portion which is permitted to remain to keep the clip attached to the insert until such time as it is deln this case, when the clip is nailed to the form, the effect is to nail the insert to v the form since the clip and insert are integrally joined with each other. However, the form may be detached from the clip, since they are only nailed to each other, and the clip may be detached from the insert since the narrow neck portion may readily be ruptured. What remains is the insert without the clip or the nails.

In the vsecond form of this invention, the clip and the 'insert are two separate members which are detachably secured to each other. In one exemplication of this 26, below their bent portions 24a and 26a.

form of the invention, the clip is in frictional engagement with the insert and may readily be detached therefrom. When the form is removed from the concrete ceiling, the' clips are retained thereon and only the inserts are left in the ceiling. The clips may then easily be `detached from the form.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying draw` ing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a ceiling insert mounted upon a clip of the character herein clamped and showing said clip nailed to a. concrete form, said form being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethrough on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section through the poured concrete and also through said insert, clip and form, said view being exploded to show the insert cast into the concrete and the form stripped away from the concrete with the clip remaining secured thereto.

Fig. 4 is a top view of the clip.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a modified form of ceiling insert and clip attached thereto, showing said clip nailed to a form.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is an exploded sectional view showing the insert of Figs. 5,`6 and 7 cast into the concrete, the clip de- -taclied therefrom and also detached from the form.

Referring now to the first form of this invention and to Figs. l to 4 inclusive, it will be observed that the present invention requires the use of two elements, namely, a ceiling insert 10 and a clip 12. The clip is nailed to a wooden form or deck 14 by means of conventional nails or tacks 16. The ceiling insert 10 is snapped into engagement with the clip after the clip is nailed to the form and it is only then that the concrete is poured onto the form. The means for supporting the form preparatory to the pouring operation is not shown since it is purely conventional.

It will be observed that clip 12 is simply a rectangular sheet of metal having a generally oval-shaped embossment 18 formed thereon. A plurality of holes 20 are formed in the corners of said clip through which nails may be driven into the form. The insert -10 maybe described, generally, as a box, having a bottom wall 22 and a pair of side walls 24 and 26 respectively. A generally oval-shaped opening 28 is formed in the bottom wall 22 to accommodate the oval-shaped prominence 18 of the clip. Of course, said opening and said prominence are made to engage each other so that the shape of the one will dictate the shape of the other. A. press-fit or snap t is contemplated so that the insert will be held securely in place on the clip during the concrete pouring i operation.

It will be observed that the walls 24 and 26 are bent inwardly to form converging portions 24a and 26a respectively, adjacent their upper ends 24h and 26h respectively, which upper ends diverge as shown in Fig. 2. Openings or slots 30 are formed in the converging portions 24a and 26a. It will be understood that this con figuration of the sides of the insert and the openings formed therein are intended to provide a strong anchorage in the poured concrete. This prevents the insert from being pulled out of the concrete under heavy loads.

An enclosure 32 is mounted within the insert 10, and more particularly between its two side walls 24 and Said enclosure forms a part of the insert and provides it with its box-like form. The enclosure consists of a top wall 34, a pair of end walls 36 and 38 and a pair of outwardly extending anges 40 and 42 at the lower ends of the end walls. These flanges are supported upon the but tom wall 22 of the insert and said enclosure is thereby supported across and above the opening 28 in the bottom wall 22 of said insert. The side edges of the top and end Walls of the enclosure frictionally abut the side walls 24 and .26 and said enclosure .is thereby held securely inplace during the concrete pouring operation. It kwill be understood that said enclosure prevents `the concrete `from pouring onto that portion .of vthe base .plate 2210i the -insert which is intended to supporta threaded .rod .or bolt. By this is meant that marginal portion of said base plate or lower 4wall 22 .which immediately surrounds the opening 28.

In the use of this device, clip 12 is secured .to the wooden form 14 vby means vof said nails 16 driven through the holes 20. The clip is now held securely in place and ready to receive the insert. The insert is then placed over -theclip until embossment 18 o f said clip enters and engages the opening 28. 'The edges of -the bottom wall 22 whichtsurround and define said open ing frictionally engage the sides of said embossment 18 and the insert is now held securely in place .on lthe form. Enclosure 32 may be inserted into the .insert at the factory so that there would be no .need to assemble the enclosures into the inserts on the job or in the field. Similarly, the clip may also be attached Vto the :insert at the factory so that even'this minorbit of assembly work is avoided Vin the iield. In this connection, it -will be noted'that the clip 12 is somewhat longer than the bottom Wall or base plate 22 ofthe insert, at yleastsufliciently so to enable the holes 2i) to clear the ends of the insert. Since these holes remain exposed even vafter the insert is pressed into place upon the clip, it will be understood that :the clip may be nailed wto the Wooden form irrespective of whether the insert is `mounted there on or not. Since all three parts of the device .herein described may be assembled at the factory, namely, the

clip, the insert and -the enclosure, the job of aiiixingV said assembly to the wooden form in the field becomes vcompletely simplied. The workman nailsthe-entire assembly to the form in precisely the same manner as he would nail a conventional insert to the form. When the concrete pouring operation is at an end, the form may be stripped from the ceiling at the proper time and with considerably less effort than is required to strip a form from conventional inserts. The reason is thatin ,stripvping a form from conventionalinserts, it is necessary to detach the form from the nails which secure it'to .the inserts. 'in the present case, on the other hand, stripping the form from the ceiling means simply that the form and attached clips are detached from the inserts without separating the nails from the form. 'This is a very simple operation since the clips are merely frictionally held by the inserts. Following the stripping operation, the clips be detached from the form by conventional means and this, too, is a simple operation because the .form

may now be placed in a handy position -for removal of the clips.

Referring now to the second form of this invention and to Figs. to 8 inclusive, it will be observed that `configuration of :the side walls of the insert andfsaid openings are intended to provide ,good anchorage in7the poured concrete.

lClip 5 2 is simply a: portion. of the bottom `Wa'llvSS of `-tllev insert, struclg out therefrom vexcept at a portion 2afby which the clip remainsattached to saidlttoov tom wall. But this connecting portion is small and weals and it may readily be ruptured When it is desired to remove the clip from the insert. It will benoted that a plurality of holes 62 are formed in clip 52 and it will be understood that it is through these holes that nails 64 may be driven into form 66. Since thek clip 52 is connected to the bottom wall of the insert in the manner described, the task of nailing the clip to the form takes place while it constitutes a part of the insert. Consequently, nailing the clip 52 to the form also nails the insert thereto.

When the nailing operation is terminated, enclosures 70 are .inserted `into the inserts. Each enclosure is provided with a top wall '7n2and apair of end walls 74 and 76 respectively, defining a structure of inverted U- shape. The side edges of the enclosure frictionally engage the side walls 54 and 56 of the insert to hold said enclosure in place therein during the concrete pouring operation. In addition, a kplurality of lugs or ears 78 .are .st rnelr out of the .side walls of vthe insert to vsnide and hold the enclosure in place. e engage the inner sides of :the enclosure `and others engage'the opter sprfaccof its. `tcp vvall thereby locking the enclosure in place in .the insert,

.After-'ftheinserts ,are attached to the form, lsyrneans of ,A ails .6.4 passing .through holes 62. in the -CIP 1PM` tions 52, theeoncrete 8,0 is poured and after it setsthe Yform or vLuis Vv6,6 are stripped therefrom. Since the clips .5;2 are lstill attached to the inserts, lthe forms Ywill also be .Stripped from them,.leaving theclips v52 and the nails 64 behind. In a conventional operation, the .exposed portions of these nails would be .clipped away b ut in the `present invention .the `clips Athems.elves are removed and, of course, the v.nails with them.v It will new benoted that an elongated slot $2 is formed .in each .clip .5:2 audit will .be understood that this yslet is intended to receive a screwdriver or like tool which maybe inserted vtherein and then used as ka lever .to detach the .clip from :the insert- What lrefrains 4exposed is the .bottom 'wall 5.8 of the insert `which serves to ysupport a threadedrod or bolt in conventional manner.-

The foregoing is illustrative of preferred forms of'this .invention and .it `will be understood that thesepreferred `forms ,may be modified and other forms may Ybe kprovided .within the broad .spirit of the -inventionandlthe bread scope of the claim.

flanges, ,said clip comprising aslug struck out .frorn'said bottom wall of :said .housing and being detached therefrom lexcept .for a .narrow neck portienwheh ioinssaid clip to said bottom wall, said narrow neck portion being nlpturable to completely detach said clip from said bot- `tom wall, n ail holes formed in said clip, whereby said housing may be detachably secured to a wooden form on .which .concrete is poured to form a concrete ceiling, by meansof lnails driven ,through said nail holes and `into said form, said cover being of inverted U shape, the

' legs .of Vsaid inverted U being ,disposed between .the lower vertically extending portions of the side Walls ,of the housing, the yoke of said inverted U` extending horizonl.tally lacross `and above said clip, between l.said legs off-the inverted U ,and between said lower portions of .theside 4Walls of the honsine, thereby terrains an Yenclosure .above said bottom wall of the housing which prevents .entry of the concrete ywhich is poured .upon .said form,

and thereby forming a .chamber having as its .bottom .wal'lthe bottom wall lof the housing and saidpelip, said upper bent kportions .of the ,side walls of said housing Some of tlies'effears and said diagonally disposed anges being adapted to be embedded into said poured concrete so as to support said ceiling insert therein, said 4clip being detachable from said bottom wall of the housing after the concrete sets and the form is removed therefrom, in order to remove the nails from said housing and to provide an opening through which a nut may be inserted into said chamber, lugs being struck out of the side Walls of the housing and being engageable with and positioning the cover therein, some of said lugs being engageable with the legs of said cover to prevent lateral displacement thereof, other of said lugs being also engageable with the yoke of said cover to prevent upward displacement thereof, said clip being provided with an elongated slot which is engageable with a tool of the character of a screw driver so that said clip may readily be detached from the bottom wall of said housing after the concrete is set and the form is removed therefrom.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,922,479 Joslin Aug. `15, 1933 2,079,478 Bashe May 4, 1937 2,280,080 Predan Apr. 21, 1942 2,517,979 Collins Aug. 8, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 297,655 Great Britain of 1928 

